[meteorite-list] IMCA?

[Greg Catterton]

When I first got into meteorites, one of the first things I did was join the IMCA. I would agree that they are not perfect but I ask, can you think of anything that is?
I joined becouse of what they stand for and think what they are trying to do is a great thing an I am happy to be a member of a group that strives to do good and also gives something back to the community.
While I do see it as more of a "dealers club" then anything else, I have enjoyed being a part of it and have only good to say about my time with them.
Just my 2 cents on the subject.

Greg Catterton
www.wanderingstarmeteorites.com


--- On Mon, 12/15/08, Michael Gilmer <michael_w_gilmer at yahoo.com> wrote:


> From: Michael Gilmer <michael_w_gilmer at yahoo.com>

> Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] IMCA?

> To: "Darryl Pitt" <darryl at dof3.com>

> Cc: meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com

> Date: Monday, December 15, 2008, 11:05 AM

> Hi Darryl,

> 

> I'm glad you wrote this back so quick, because I was

> mulling over what

> I had said, and I think I may have come across wrong.  I am

> not

> trying to bash the IMCA.  I fully support their mission to

> police the

> meteorite marketplace and to put some measure of

> consistency into

> the handling and dealing of meteorites.  And for the most

> part, I think

> the IMCA succeeds with flying colors in this respect.  But,

> no

> group is perfect, and the IMCA can come across as

> inconsistent at

> times to people from outside the group.  I am not privy to

> the 

> IMCA's internal workings, so what I am saying must be

> taken with a

> grain of salt - since I am merely putting forth a single

> opinion as

> someone from outside the group.  I am curious whether other

> people

> from outside the IMCA may feel the same way - a couple of

> comments I

> have read on the list in the last week have led me to

> believe that

> others might be seeing the same things I am.  

> 

> I'll also say I have never been burned on a deal by an

> IMCA member.

> In fact, (knock on wood), I have never been burned on a

> deal for

> meteorites by anyone (yet).  I have been trading online

> since 1999, so

> I have good fraud radar - years of buying and collecting

> antique

> telescopes has taught me this. (there is a lot of fraud and

> misrepresentation in the the antique scope market).  I have

> bought

> specimens from nearly every major member of this list over

> the last

> 12-16 months.  The majority of these people are IMCA

> members - and

> their cordial nature and genuine desire to help newcomers

> is what 

> gave me a positive impression of the meteorite field/hobby.

>  But now

> that I have been a part of this hobby long enough to see

> some things,

> I am learning that our watchdogs also need some occasional

> watching.

> The IMCA is a large international collective - it has

> members from

> all walks of life and corners of the world.  Like any such

> group,

> there is going to be some variation in how things are

> implemented from

> one member to the next.  

> 

> I have a great deal of respect for the IMCA and the

> majority of it's

> members, but my respect is not blind and I have seen a few

> things

> over the course of my time in the hobby that has tempered

> this respect

> with a measure of perspective.  While I would consider it

> an honor

> to be a member of the same group as some of the

> highly-respected

> IMCA personalities, I think there are a few things going on

> that

> make me reluctant.  Currently, I am greatly enjoying this

> hobby as

> a collector and kitchen-table dealer.  I am also learning

> many new

> things about planetary science, space science, chemistry,

> geology,

> and meteoritics.  I feel rewarded and stimulated by my

> participation

> in the world of meteorites - and I see no reason right now

> to change

> that participation by aligning myself with a particular

> group.

> 

> Best regards and clear skies,

> 

> MikeG

> 

> 

> .........................................................

> Michael Gilmer (Louisiana, USA)

> Member of the Meteoritical Society.

> Member of the Bayou Region Stargazers Network.

> Websites - http://www.galactic-stone.com and

> http://www.glassthrower.com

> MySpace - http://www.myspace.com/fine_meteorites_4_sale

> ..........................................................

> 

> 

> 

> --- On Mon, 12/15/08, Darryl Pitt <darryl at dof3.com>

> wrote:

> 

> > From: Darryl Pitt <darryl at dof3.com>

> > Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] IMCA?

> > To: michael_w_gilmer at yahoo.com

> > Cc: meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com

> > Date: Monday, December 15, 2008, 9:38 AM

> > I think what the IMCA aspires to be is outstanding,

> and I

> > wish the  

> > organization good fortune as it strives to do an

> better job

> > in  

> > promoting an agenda which is of benefit to us all.

> > 

> > 

> > 

> > On Dec 15, 2008, at 10:26 AM, Michael Gilmer wrote:

> > 

> > > Hi List,

> > >

> > > I never thought I would agree with any of these

> views

> > that are  

> > > critical

> > > of the IMCA, but I must admit (unfortunately)

> that I

> > have seen some

> > > things that gives me pause about ever wanting to

> join

> > again.

> > >

> > > I was rejected on my first time around for being

> > "too new" on the  

> > > scene.

> > >

> > > A few months later, a beginner I started out in

> the

> > hobby (introduced

> > > and schooled) was accepted the first time after

> being

> > on the scene for

> > > a fraction of the time I have.

> > >

> > > I have seen IMCA members use incorrect or

> misleading

> > terminology to

> > > describe/sell specimens.

> > >

> > > I have seen IMCA members butcher and disrespect

> > meteorites in the name

> > > of making a buck. (hideous resin-encased

> kindergarten

> > junk)

> > >

> > > I have had IMCA members be rude to me - uncalled

> for

> > at that.

> > >

> > > On the plus side (for the IMCA) -

> > >

> > > Some of the nicest people I have met on the

> meteorite

> > scene are IMCA

> > > members.

> > >

> > > 2 of my "meteorite mentors" are IMCA

> members

> > - I greatly value their

> > > friendship and expertise.

> > >

> > > I have gotten some GREAT deals from IMCA members.

> > >

> > > I have learned MUCH from talking with IMCA

> members.

> > >

> > > So, in the end, I have to say my opinion of the

> IMCA

> > is conflicted.

> > > On the one hand, I feel a personal loyalty to

> some

> > members who have

> > > become valued friends of mine.  On the other

> hand, I

> > think the IMCA

> > > is inconsistent and NEEDS TO CLEAN HOUSE.  Until

> this

> > house-cleaning

> > > takes place, I am not joining (even if they'd

> have

> > me).

> > >

> > > Regards and clear skies,

> > >

> > > MikeG

> > >

> > > ------------------------------------------------

> > >

> > > Message: 7

> > > Date: Mon, 15 Dec 2008 08:51:39 +1000

> > > From: "Bob WALKER"

> > <qwalkra at mailbox.ezadsl.net.au>

> > > Subject: [meteorite-list] IMCA not a knight in

> shining

> > armour !

> > > To: "Meteorite"

> > <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>

> > > Message-ID:

> >

> <E8E6C4F63F3E4608B224FCA6DFAA328F at your0a700f0aaf>

> > > Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed;

> > charset="iso-8859-1";

> > >    reply-type=original

> > >

> > > Listoids

> > >

> > > Heaven forbid !

> > >

> > > The alleged guardian of our sacred community

> condoning

> > the sale of  

> > > "Mekong

> > > Iron"

> > >

> > > It isn't the first or last time that Listoids

> have

> > been unhappy with  

> > > IMCA...

> > >

> > > I'd like to hear from other Listoids who have

> had

> > "disagreements" with

> > > IMCA - I'm beginning to take the view that

> there

> > is a bad odour to  

> > > IMCA ( ?

> > > by dealers for dealers ?) - tho I'm still

> acutely

> > aware of the  

> > > excellent

> > > work done by many IMCA members

> > >

> > > At least it will take the heat off Bob EVANS for

> a

> > while

> > >

> > >

> > >

> >

> .........................................................

> > > Michael Gilmer (Louisiana, USA)

> > > Member of the Meteoritical Society.

> > > Member of the Bayou Region Stargazers Network.

> > > Websites - http://www.galactic-stone.com and

> > http://www.glassthrower.com

> > > MySpace -

> > http://www.myspace.com/fine_meteorites_4_sale

> > >

> >

> ..........................................................

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > ______________________________________________

> > > http://www.meteoritecentral.com

> > > Meteorite-list mailing list

> > > Meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com

> > >

> >

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> 

> 

>       

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